California To Require E-Voting Paper Trail

from the phew dept

Good news coming out of California today, as they've done the sensible thing and will require all electronic voting machines to include an auditable paper trail to make sure that the votes are accurate. Due to the size of California, it will require that the voting machine makers build such machines - and other states are sure to follow once they know paper-trail machines are available. Meanwhile, the article includes a number of quotes from critics who are against the idea saying that it adds cost and delays the voting process. Some complain that it takes away the benefit of electronic voting machines. That, of course, is ridiculous. Democracy isn't about being cheap or convenient. It's about letting everyone have a vote and having that vote counted accurately.

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Audit Each Election

Ater each election the computerized results from a random selection of precincts are audited against the paper ballots.

In the event of a recount, the recount is conducted using the paper ballots.

Any public official who insists that it is not necessary to be able to audit election results for accuracy should be fired.

The first to go should be Conny McCormack, the registrar for Los Angeles County, who said "There's absolutely no evidence of any problems with the accuracy of the current, certified electronic voting systems." Well of course there's no evidence Conny, because the current electronic voting systems do not provide the ability to audit their accuracy.